Sian does Wheelers proud in Scotland

BOURNE’S Sian Botteley raced for the East Midlands in arguably the biggest event on the youth road race calendar, the three day Tour of Scotland at Easter.

Based around villages to the west of Perth, the 45 riders had the luxury of racing on completely closed roads, and the big race brought out the best of the Bourne Wheeler rider.

In Friday’s opening two stages, Sian finished 19th in the 1.5 mile individual time trial and then helped her team mates to fourth place in the team time trial which was based on three laps of the individual loop to make a 4.5 mile course. Sian’s team finished just 18 seconds off the leading time recorded by the well drilled North West Squad.

Sian, 15, then achieved her best ever result as a youth rider in Saturday’s 35 mile race. After getting into the lead group, Sian came home in fifth place, just missing out on a place on the podium by half a bike length.

Having moved up to 15th overall, it was all to play for in Sunday’s hilly 18 mile stage.

However, after a gutsy attack to break away on the second of five laps was brought back by an ever vigilant bunch. Sian slipped back through the field to eventually place 30th on the stage and 21st overall.

Although not quite achieving the overall result Sian was hoping for, Saturday’s fantastic ride will fill her with confidence for the long season ahead, and with the UK School Games less than a month away, Sian will be looking to help her East Midland team mates take the top spot when she gets to race on the Olympic velodrome.

n CLOSER to home, and in the second of two five mile time trials that act as a warm-up before the Be-Well evening 10 mile league starts next week, 23 Bourne Wheelers faced the timekeeper on Wednesday.

Form rider James Gelsthorpe showed that he will be the man to beat this year, posting an excellent time of 11.14.

Second place went to Andy Barnard with 11.44, while last year’s club champion, Keith Munton, gave his new time trial bike an outing and was pleased with his time of 11.56. Bart Kieres and Mark Botteley also raced with 12:02 and 12:17 respectively.

In the battle between the youth riders, Campbell Pollock, like James in the seniors’ section, showed that he will be tough to beat this year, with a very fast 12.36. Tim James was second with 13.33 with Sian Botteley claiming the third podium position with a time of 13.39.